Beebe told reporters Monday that he has faith in McDaniel's ability to defend the state's gay marriage ban despite announcing his support for marriage equality. McDaniel on Saturday said he would continue defending the 2004 amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman. A Pulaski County judge is expected to rule this week in a lawsuit challenging that ban.

Beebe, a former attorney general, said part of an attorney general's job is defending measures he may not support personally.

McDaniel is the first statewide elected official in Arkansas to support gay marriage. Beebe and McDaniel are Democrats.